Video:Desert Botanical Garden

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Transcript:Desert Botanical Garden

Hi, I'm Jen D'Amore for About.com, and this video is your guide to visiting the Desert Botanical Gardens.

What Are the Desert Botanical Gardens?

Situated on 145 acres, with more than 50,000 plants, the Desert Botanical Gardens is not just a garden, but is considered to be a museum. Besides desert conservation and education the garden incorporates the arts into their exhibits and special events year round. Just before the entrance, you'll see what remains of the renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly's "Nature of Glass" Exhibition that incorporated plant like glass sculptures into the landscape.

Trails at the Desert Botanical Gardens

The Desert Botanical Gardens consists of 5 major loop trails. All are wheelchair accessible; in fact, you can rent a scooter or a wheelchair at the visitors' center. Upon entering you are greeted by the dramatic Entry Garden. To the right, the Wildflower loop trail is a colorful favorite, especially in April when the wildflowers are in full bloom. This loop also features the Bee, Hummingbird, and Butterfly Gardens where you're sure to catch a glimpse of those flower lovers. To the left, the Desert Discovery loop is the main trail, with cacti and succulents from around the world, and most of the garden's trails and exhibitions branching from it, including the Herb Garden, the Sonoran Desert nature loop, and the Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert loop. Look for their color coded signage to find your way, or just follow the loops, each is between 1/4 and 1/3 of a mile.

Where to Stop on the Desert Botanical Garden Trails

Be sure to stay hydrated while walking around in the desert, and stop for a refreshment at the Patio Cafe, located on the Ullman Terrace. Plenty of saguaro cactus can be seen on the Sonoran loop, as can a panoramic mountain view of the entire area. The Plants and People (of the Sonoran Desert) loop is a pragmatic look at desert plants, with examples of how they've been used for shelter, medicine, and food. You can check out a humble abode and even try pounding your own mesquite beans into flour.

The Cactus gallery turns cactus into true works of art complementing nature with beautifully designed contemporary architectural features. It features cactus families from deserts far and wide. For a few months each spring, the Butterfly Pavilion is open featuring butterflies from around the country. Be sure to visit the garden shop on your way out, where you can pick up a desert garden of your own.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the web at About.com.